Plantation Board Tells Resident To Get Permit Or Take Down Dish

PLANTATION — On July 6, 1983, the City Council told resident Rick Wilber to dismantle a satellite dish antenna in the yard of his Jacaranda home.

Councilman John Gibbs also suggested at the time that the city Building Department staff study the issue of having dish antennas in residential neighborhoods.

Monday night -- almost 15 months later -- Code Enforcement Board members learned Wilber never took down his 12-foot diameter television reception dish, apparently never heard from city staff and wants to keep the antenna.

``A year-and-a-half went by and I didn`t hear one ounce, and now I hear it again and I just don`t think it`s fair,`` Wilber said to the Code Enforcement Board.

Code enforcement officer Len Zargo said he did not work for the city 1 1/2 years ago. He said he spotted the antenna Feb. 12 at Wilber`s home, 842 SW 90th Ave., while driving through the city.

``Here we are in 1985 and that satellite is still up there,`` Zargo said. ``The violation still stands.``

The Code Enforcement Board unanimously agreed that Wilber is violating a city ordinance, and gave him 60 days to get a permit or take the satellite down.

According to a city ordinance, Wilber now must apply for a permit through the Building Department. Then the city must write a letter to the local cable company, Group W Cable, which then considers the request.

Linda Tapp, the Code Board`s acting chairwoman, said the city already had received a letter from Group W Cable, saying the company had no objection to Wilber`s antenna.

Wilber still must go through the process of applying for a permit, submit 13 copies showing where the antenna is located and pay a $100 fee.

The City Council would then review Wilber`s request and have final say in the matter.

But it is unlikely that the City Council will give Wilber permission to keep the antenna, because most members believe the satellites are eyesores.

``If we were to start granting permission for those things, I think the entire city would start looking like Mars at some point,`` said Councilman John Gibbs. ``They would be everywhere. It`s pretty hard to hide a 12-foot antenna from your neighbor.``

Code Enforcement Board members also gave Charles Greene, of 910 NW 116th Terrace in Plantation Acres, 90 days to get a permit for a satellite dish in his yard.

Greene also must go through the same permit process as Wilber and appear before the City Council.